Land Off Bury Hill, Hambrook, South Gloucestershire, BS16 1SS

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the proposal would constitute inappropriate development in the Green Belt for the purposes of the National Planning Policy Framework and the development plan policy
• The effect on the openness of the Green Belt
• The effect on a Scheduled Monument (SM), Bury Hill Fort
• The effect on undesignated archaeological remains
• If it is inappropriate development, whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development

What decided it

The clear policy failure and significant unmet need/lack of alternative sites for Gypsy and Traveller pitches, combined with the appellant's and his family's personal circumstances including the best interests of the children, amounted to very special circumstances clearly outweighing the Green Belt and heritage harm.

The other considerations (pitch need and supply shortfall, lack of alternative sites, and personal circumstances) clearly outweighed the harm by reason of inappropriateness, loss of openness, and harm to the Scheduled Monument, amounting to very special circumstances justifying the grant of permission.